THE SECRET MILLIONAIRE: Channel 4

THIS ARTICLE CONCERNS THE 2006 CHANNEL 4 SECRET MILLIONAIRE SERIES, FOR MORE UP TO DATE ARTICLES CLICK HERE.

Channel 4′s new five part documentary series begins on Wednesday the 29th November at 9pm.

Each week a different multi-millionaire searches for people whose lives he or she can change for the better. Each of our modern-day philanthropists must guarantee to give away thousands of pounds of their own money. For ten days, the millionaires leave their wealthy lifestyle behind and go undercover to live in some of the UK’s toughest areas. They conceal their true identities and immerse themselves in communities with the aim of finding those people that they think deserve their help. On the last day of their visit, they reveal their secret and write their cheques.

Ten years ago, aged just 16, Ben Way made a life changing business deal worth 25 million pounds, making him one of Britain’s youngest self-made millionaires. Six years later, he’d lost the lot. Now, aged 26, Ben has successfully rebuilt his fortune. But, now fully aware of how tough life can be when you hit rock bottom, he wants to find others who deserve a helping hand. “I’ve been incredibly lucky to have ended up on this side of the tracks. I see it a bit like Russian roulette. My life played Russian roulette with me. Fortunately I won and some people haven’t and I can find those people and change their lives.”

In the opening film, Ben says goodbye to his private plane, his central London bachelor pad and his fine dining to live on one of the toughest estates in London. He travels just seven miles across town to Hackney – one of the city’s most deprived areas – notorious for gang culture, violent crime and where nearly 60 percent of the kids grow up in single parent families. For ten days he works as a volunteer youth worker at the Pedro Club alongside its inspirational manager, Ufu, who greets Ben by saying, “welcome to murder mile.” During his stay, Ben lives in a room in a shared flat on the local estate.

But how easy will it be for Ben to befriend a group of youngsters and discover who is most deserving of his help? The kids at the club have a tremendous support and ‘father figure’ in Ufu, who dedicates so much of his time to them and the youth club. Ufu is greatly supported by James Cook, ex-British and European professional super middle weight boxing champion. For the past ten years he has been a local outreach worker, patrolling the streets looking for young people who are truanting or involved in drugs.

Ben struggles to decide who deserves his money, but after an emotional ten day visit he finally reveals his identity and the true purpose of his stay…. how will his new friends react?

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